Powder pressing machine



July 9, 1957 J. D, WINTERS 2,798,255

POWDER PREISSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet l J. D.-wlNTERs POWDER PREssING MACHINE:

July '9, 19x57 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 195,4

July 9, 1957 J. D. WINTERS POWDER PRESSING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheetl 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 h@ imi DMW/u ON n@ E QH mw. x Eg NH M. l l Q @l l Il ,Il f wm, .QW nvm .7. ww

25u/UW l l W July 9, 1957 J. D. wlNTERs POWDER PRESSING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 8, 1954 6%@ J9. @Muzio/ July 9, 1957 J. D; WINTER?, 2,798,255

POWDER PRESSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1954 '7 sheets-shea*b 5 l MW @l FI i .Eiga/0771 July 9, 1957 J. D. wlNTERs POWDER PRESSING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 @n mb.

hf a 'www' July 9, 1957 J. D. wlNTERs POWDER PREssING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 N@ Wmv United States PaS-frem- 2,798,255 'POWDER` PRESSING iMA'cHINE John (D. Winters, yLake Bluff, rlll., fassignonz to ,'Fansteel Metallurgical Corporation, a corporation of NewYork 1ripplication"fFebru'al'y' 8, 21954,SerialNofSZ :16 Claims. ((21. 18-20) This invention relates,.to.:a machine` fortcompacting powder, and particularly for compacting tantalumj metal powder tto ay predeterminedporous condtiom t Although the description offthe invention willsbe limited,

fforthe sake-of convenience, tozthe productionnoftatcompacted ytantalum-telectrodefor subseguentuse in; citor, it `will. be -understood thatcthemachine: ,mayxine apaut-ilized .to-.compact -anyypowclered` material toll-accurate pressures.

YThem-achille constructed in accordance.withfthegpresent inventionl isl designedto .compact metalpowderfaround .acapacitor element with predeterminedpressurenso-that afterthecompacted Inass-is-:sintered'it will have .uniform porosity throughout. v

Ther processY of compacting theitantalumfmetal l:powder comprises a` -sequence of -d-iieIent vf1operations,,iandfhe Hmachine-isprovided with-a turntable indexedwtstopgat aplurality of diierentworkstations at each oflwhich'one `st ep of thegprocess.is ,accomplished, withttheiresulthat a different Capacitor :element- -,is positionedl at each @work station every time theturntablewstopm'andneachoapacitor elementis completely; processed when ihhastraveled one complete cyclefoffthe turntable. 4 Onecapacitorelement is fed 1 into-the 'machine y atr the irst work" station andl one is discharged .-atdheilastfworkl vstationfevery timer the I.turntable stops, I so Vthat fthe process -vis continuous.

Asmal amount :of- ,Yhinder ,istL preferably added; :to -the metal` Powder vto Iincrease fthe` adhesionv whenqthe powder is compacted to; selfssustaining-form. The compactis fvery -frangib1e, and ftherefore'lthe ,capacitor element iis lifted Jpartiallywout Aof i the: rdie at the discharge fstationyso that: it maybefremovedby .tweezers 'which are applied' `to =alpin .'on'- one sidenofvthe .capacitor element. jThisipin i does not have any p owder compacted 5 thereagainst, Land -thereforeimay bezhandledlwithoutzbrealeage. The comv pacted capacitorfelements are -inserted `intoa-.Stlitable holder in which they are sintered. iThevsinteringtprocess unites= the compacted-ltantalum powderypermanentlywith the capacitor element,Whichiszmadeentirely ofgy ,tantalum,

' and alsorcausesthezbinrler tovolatilize; so that .thecapaci- .tance yof theinal'productis not,adversely'faectedby the presence of any r binder.

The structure by; means ,of fwhichithef abovetzand vother advantages of the ,nventionare attained-twill, be :described through the' Yirst-Worlr station of 'the'ma'chine 'atfwhich 2,798,255 Patented v.Iuly ,9,1957

2 .the tantalum pin to be compacted 4isirstloadedtinto.the vmachine;

.Figure f6 i is a `fragmentary -vertica1 sectional vview through :the 1 :second station in .whichntheft powder .toi be .compacted .is :loaded .in `the die;

'Figure 7 fis .a fragmentary :vertical sectional view .through the third 4:station atwhich.. thegpowder; is.,com frpacted;

nFigure :8..is f a fragmentary vertical View" through, `the fourth-station ;at which the ipressinggpunch .isretracted fromtthe die, r,with the` parts in position. just ,prior tto cthe tstripping operation;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure-8,.,with theparts in positionjust-t subsequentl to ,the ystripping;,operatiolu Alf-igure 10-is avfragmentary-'top plangviewothe fourth ,r station and contiguous :sections -Y of the fturntable;

Figure Yl 1` Vis -a fragmentary perspective view oft one .section of i the turntable having Y a sp1-ing, pressed plunger .-,tohold the 4.supporting-,postatfthefourthfstation tosfacililitate stripping fr the compacted capacitorfelementfrom-the Ydiei ,Eigure -172 s is f a ,detail perspective 'e view ofthe spring pressed'jf plunger described 4.in-Figure .11; v ./tFigure` 1.3 tis-aV detailperspective viewrofthe,l tubular i-sheath in whichwthe' .spring pressed; plunger is housed;

:Figure 14, isa detailprespectiyefview :'ofvthesupporting post forholding the capacitor.` element ',gastibis; moved :through thevarious f workstations oflthe machine;V

`Figure 15 .is s aZ fragmentary verticalgfsectionthrough the fifth station, at which thegcompaeted capacitorjele- I@rient is removed; from .the -machine;

j:Eigme 16vis a,detailperspective:view offthetcapacitor yelement at-.the-- start of .the operations; and

Figure A17 is a detail;perspectivesviewf of thef capacitor i-element lafter the Y tantalumy powder "has t:been -zcompacted -fabout the pin on l' one` side.

t Referring to the drawings, the vvariousfwork fstations offv the 5 machine .are designated I-by they numerals: 1-1 to A'5. Thestation.indicated at -6 isidle andrmayebe disregarded. 40 -Thesiigthqstation isgprovidedonlytbecauseome Eparts t .fora,sixfstationmachinefmay be purchased as .stock items ,--inwtheopen market, while everyffpart wouldzhave to-ibe adeto order,foryave-stationemachine. The-:statons fare ,mounted on a turntable; I7 .and-are equallyaspacedzin ;a ei rcu1ar, formation, Vas jshownain-TFfigureivZ.

The machine is. provided with a` two-part ibase, indicated fatz-Sitand 1in-Figure 13. 'Basememberr-"S has aa-.bottom awalllt)V fand an upstanding` vside .wall ylluwhich isupports :the: base=memberil9. The vbasememl'lerl 9.k also 4has a bottom 1 wall F12 f and. an upsta-nding side wall -13l nwhich l terminates inl la horizontally'disposed flange 14. ase S is provided with an upstanding socket l15 in which a` cen- `ter post-E16 isseated. vThel post 16 is rigidly'fsecured to .soeketISby a bolt-or-stu'dl19. Ahub'-20=fits-around 4postl and is provided with a .dependingshankl 21- which Vextendslt-hroughan opening 22 init-hebottoni wall-12pt 4'-'base memberf9 land `is supported bythe'upper edgeof i socket-15. The turntable`7 is rigidly secured tothehub 60u20: by means lof a-plurality of bolts^'- 23anddow,el pins 124. The outer peripheral edgeofturntable" 7"is .sup- -ported by-llangel14of base member 9.

A Geneva movement 25 mounted in base memberls, l*is operatively connected to hub "20 and rotates'the-turn- 65table'along with the hub. The: Geneva movementislinfderxed to provide AsixA equally spaced rests of, uniform "length so that .asthe-turntable'is rotated -through one -complete revolution it is stopped at v'six Vequally .spaced Yintervals for uniform rests.

,arranged sosthat one of the w.ork, pieces, hereinafter "desci'ibed,is^located at` each vofthefwork Astations every vtime'theturntable is `at rest. "The'Geneva movement The Geneva movement is 3 and the mechanism for actuating it are conventional and therefore will not be described.

A plurality of supporting posts 26 extending upwardly from turntable 7 support a plate 27 in parallel spaced relationship to the turntable. Posts 26 are rigidly secured to turntable 7 and to plate 27 so that the plate moves with the turntable. Plate 27 is provided with six openings 28 equally spaced circumferentially of the plate.

An upper die member .29 is drive-tted into each opening 28 and is provided with a shoulder 30 overlying the edge of plate 27, as shown in Figure 5. Each die member 29 has a hardened insert 31 provided with a vertical bore 32. The plate 27 is also provided with a pair of openings 33 on diametncally opposite sides of each opening 28. A sleeve 34 is drive-fitted into each of the openings 33 and depends a short distance below the lower surface of the plate 27. Y

The turntable 7 is provided with six openings 35, each aligned axially with one of the openings 28 in plate 27. The upper portion of each opening is counterbored, as indicated at 36, and a bushing 37 is seated in the counterbored portion of each opening. A supporting post 38 is slidably mounted in each bushing. The bottom end of each supporting post is positioned on a cam track 39 (Figs. 3 and 4) integral with the bottom wall 12 of base member 9, and is provided with a transverse recess 40. The cam track is at its lowermost level at the first station and ascends to its high level before it reaches station 2. 'Ihe cam track remains at its high level around the circumference of the bottom -wal1`12 until it reaches station 4. The cam slopes downwardly past station 4 and reaches its lowermost level again at station 5. The cam remains at its low level until after it passes station 1.

As shown in Figure 5, each supporting post has a longitudinal bore 41 having its lower end 42 of reduced diameter and its upper end 43 of increased diameter. A hardened insert 44 has a shank 44' drive-tted into the upper end 43 of bore 41. The insert 44 has a narrow vertical bore 45 extending therethrough. An ejecting pin 46 lits slidably into bore 41 and has upper and lower portions, 47 and 48 respectively, of reduced thickness.

The upper portion 47 forms a shoulder 49 on pin 46,

- and the lower portion 48 passes through the lower end 42 of bore 41 and into the recess 40. A coiled compression spring 50 is positioned in bore 41 and bears against shoulder 49 and the bottom of shank 44 of insert 44.

Since shank 44 is drive-fitted into the bore andthe pin 46 is slidable therein, spring 50 urges pin 46 downwardly so that it normally stays in its lowermost position. A thin pin 51 extends upwardly from the top of portion 47 of pin 46 into vertical bore 45 in which it is slidable. Pin 51 may be integral with pin 46 or may be a separate member. The upper end of pin 51 extends approximately half way through bore 45 when pin 46 is in its lowermost position.

The machine is so designed that when turntable 7 is at rest, one of the supporting posts 38 is located at each of the stations. During the rest interval the operator inserts a capacitor element 52 (Fig. 16) in the supporting post 38 at position 1 (Fig. 5). Each capacitor element comprises a ange or disk 53 having identical pins 54 and 55 welded to opposite sides thereof. Pins 54 and 55 are located centrally of the flange and are in axial alignment. The flange and both pinsl are made of tantalum or other suitable refractory material. The machine compacts a quantity of powder around pin 55, as indicated at 56 (Fig. 17) and the capacitor element in its nal form is designated by the reference numeral 57. The pin 54 is inserted in bore 45, and flange 53 rests on the top surface of insert 44. The lower end of pin 54 terminates a short distance above the upper end of pin 51.

A collar 58 is rigidly secured to insert 44 and extends laterally therefrom. Collar 58 is shown as being o f substantially oval shape, but it is obvious that it may be of any shape. A pair of guide pins 59 are secured to opposite end portions of collar 58 and extend upwardly into sleeves 34 in which they are slidably fitted. The guide pins hold the supporting posts to true vertical position as the supporting posts move vertically in response to variations in height of vcam track 39 which engage the bottom of each supporting post as turntable 7 rotates to carry each supporting post past the work stations. For the sake of clarity, the movement of a single supporting post will be described through a complete revolution of the turntable.

The supporting post 38, with capacitor element 52 positioned thereon, is moved from station 1 to station 2, shown in Figure 6. The cam ascends from its lowermost level at station 1 to its uppermost level at station 2 so that the bottom of supporting post 38 is approximately ush with the lower edge of bushing 37 and the upper surface of ange 53 abuts the underside of upper die insert 31 with pin 55 projecting into bore 32. A this station, bore 32 is iilled with a measured quantity of powder from a tube 60 extending from a powder dispenser 61 (Fig. 1). The preferred powder dispenser is disclosed and claimed in the application Serial No. 395,891 led December 3, 1953, in the names of John D. Winters and Arthur C. Nichols, but any suitable dispenser may be used.

The powder dispenser is supported by the housing 62 of a motor (not shown) which is synchronized with the motor 63 operating Geneva movement 25 so that a ram 64 (Figs. 3 and 7) is reciprocated vertically once every time turntable 7 is at rest, the ram starting its downward stroke immediately after turntable 7 stops rotating. A

- crosshead 65 is rigidly secured to ram 64 and reciprocates therewith. A strap 66 secured to crosshead 65 and extending laterally therefrom isV secured to an actuating rod 67 depending from powder dispenser 61. A predetermined quantity of powder is spilled into tube 60 upon each downward stroke of the ram.

' At station 3 (Fig. 7) supporting post 38 is .aligned with ram 64. A press pin 68, secured in the bottom of Vram 64 enters bore 32 and compacts the powder on its downward stroke. At this station an index pin 69, depending from crosshead 65, moves into a bushing 70 fitted in an aperture 71 in plate 27 upon the downward movement of the ram and crosshead. As shown in Figure 2, turntable 7 is provided with a bushing 70 for each station so that one of them is `aligned with the index pin every time the turntable stops. The engagement of the index pin vwith bushing 70 insures accurate alignment of each supporting post 38 with the mechanism adapted to perform various steps in the process of compacting the powder at each work station. The vertical alignment of index -pin 69 is maintained by a pair of guide rods 89 which depend from crosshead 65 into aperture 90 provided therefor in a bracket 91 rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

Cam 39, upon which the bottom of supporting post 38 rides, is provided with a recess or gap 72 (Fig. 11) in which a vertically movable spring loaded plunger 73 is positioned. As shown in Figures 8, l2 and 13, plunger 73 comprises a tubular sleeve 74 fitting in a suitable aperture 75 in bottom wall 12 of base member 9, a plunger head 76 and a tubular sleeve 77 depending from head 76 into sleeve 74. A coiled compressed spring 78 is confined within the tubular portion of the plunger with end bearing against bottom Wall 12 and its other end bearing against the undersurface of plunger head 76 to urge the plunger upwardly.

At station 4 the bottom of supporting post 38 rests on plunger head 76. As rotation of turntable 7 brings post 38 close to station 4, a latching pin 79, extending laterally from collar 58, strikes the side of latch 80 pivoted to` a bracket 81, as indicated at 82, Figure 9. Bracket 81 issupported by a strip 83 extending upwardly from base tance before the turntable istops" rotating. fAfdat spring t'84 (FigflO) vbears against *the oppositefside of=`latchf y80 to resist its Apivotal A movement. t As- 1soon-'as turntable 7 stops Airotatiitgfa stud 85, depending"'3fomlcrosshead 65,

fthe-'spring 84-moves the .flatch-backfto Pits--normal'position twhere'it overliesvr lpidi7-9` toprevent upward:l movementf of postf 38 under the iinuence Vrof-"springd78`` when' the upiwardfstroke oficrosslread'fmoves stud-85 outxoftenlfgagement :withI guide =pir1f59.`

fAsshown iniFig'ure 11, cam-*39 is decreased in" height Y t. past @the t: gap 72.y 2Asfturntable rotatesY to-move-fsup "portingpost towards-station S,'-Fthe^pin79l engages-the `the E 'top 1 of the turntable, -immediately before it-reaches station 5. A narrow/.roam` SS-extendingeupwardly from that?the"description"thereofis'intende'd to .beillustrative, "rather than'restrictivegas many detailsrnaybefrnodiiie'd'orl ''changed'without departing from :therspirit orscope ofzthe invention. "Accordingly, vI-do not-desireatobe .restricted to .the exact details oficonstruction.described.

AWhatfis,claimedfis: t Y f l. 4Ina machinefor compactingmetalpowder, ,against an-V article, jaturntable l indexed to. rotate intermittently with rests of uniform duration at.eachlo`f a plurality of uniformly spaced work stations, a plurality of supporting posts mounted on said turntable in theV same spaced "relationship as said stations, one of'said postsy being posi- 'tione'd at each of said stations each"timefsaid'turntable v cornes to'rest,`each of said postsv having anaxial bore engagea'ble withone 'portion of thefarticleagainst which powder is to ^be^V compactedfto 'hold said article? impredetermined positionf for said compacting l operation,= a I' cam `engaging 'thelriottomr of -eachofsaid posts, said Ycam-'having `a high level and a lowlevel*-to-regulate-.the-vertical positionf of--said posts-at each yof vsaidstations, said"v cam -havinghai-gapfat `one ofsaid :stations-adjacent :one .end `offthehigh llevelof said earn,- a .spring loadedplunger positioned .in-said.gap saidplunger having a head-,nor-

mally held substantially flush with the, adjacent khigh level portion `of said cam, said plunger head engaging the `bot- 1 tom of the supporting post positioned. at said one station whensaid turntable is at rest, means to depress said 'one supporting post against the' action of said"spring'loaded plunger', -a pinj'projecting laterally lffrom saidv supporting post, a llatch-'engageable with saidilaterally projecting pinwhenV said supporting post is depressedto 'prevent "frupw-ard movement of saidfsupporting-posttosaid high =levelfupon'release^ of said depressingmea'ns, and' a second roarnT positioned adjacent 'said iirst cam-and Iextending from :a position-adjacent'thefoppositefside of fs-aid gap-to` ai position-adjacent the -next station, `said-.second carntbeingenf-gageableswithysaid,v pin upon rotation*of--said-.turntable-to forcesaid supporting post` downwardly. to.. its lower level .as sai-d post-movesto said next station.

J.2. In amachinefor .compacting metal powder :against an f article, a turntable indexed to rotate .intermittently `with..restsv at. each of a, plurality of.. spaced workstations, a plurality of supporting po'sts mounted on said turntable` Ein. thee-'same i spaced relationship l as fsaid i stations,

i one of-said posts-:being'fpositioned at eac'zhi 'of said stations feach time -said turntable 'comestotfrestyeaeh 'ofi said posts having 1 anfaxi'al bore 'eng-ageable with i one portion 'of fthe articlefagainstwhichpowderis to'fbe lconipa'ctedlto hold/said larticle inf predetermined 'position' forfsaid 4cornpacting "operation, a cam engaging theV bottom '.of -feach ofi said' posts, said f cam? having a Lhigh". level.z and a L low llevel to .Iregulate the :vertical ."positioniof said lpostsat each of saidv "stations, zsaid; caml having fai-gap at `lonefof saidv y stations adjacent one fend i of the' hi'g'hiilevel of.- said :carin :fa lsp'rin'ghloade'diplungeriipositioned in said lgap, @said iplunger having a`v head i'normally heldf substantially '-ushwith'theiadjacent lhigh level f portion of :said cam, -sid .'.plungerfhead engaging: the :bottom Pof :thesfsupporting .post positioned at said one:stationiwlentsaid". turnt table ris iat rest, Emeans` to depresszsaidione supporting post against ftheffaction lofi'said Tspring loadedy plunger, Afa fpin projecting :laterally from i said 'supporting ypost, fatilatch vengageable with-said laterally projecting pinfwhen said @supporting .post "isdepressedtoprevent iupward 'mover2. mentrof fsaid supporting@ post "1 to f said high f level iupon @release :of said-f depressing means, and a :second camfposi- :tioned adjace'ntsaid irst cam and-.extendingffromfa posi- 25 ztions?adjacent'ftheiopposite? side; of s'aidfgap .tofaipo'sition iadja'centthe.nextT station,: said fsecond cam'beingengagefable s:with iv said "pin upon rotation Tof fsaid turntableito ''forcef'saidf supporting post! downwardly to its 1 lower` level as-fr said .post'lmoves tofsaid-next station. 00 `3;:'111 amachine forfcompactingfmetalipowderagainstt an farticle; ai turn-table indexed 'ito rotate `fintermittently-1-with l:rests vof uniforrnf'dura'tion iat'feach lfof f'a plurality i iof- `uniforinly'f spaced *work Jstati'or`1s,:af: pluralityvofV suppor'ting ."posts 'mounted'on- 'saidf turntablein thersanieispacedarela- -ti-onship as saidfstations, one of said :posts beingpositioned -at each ofsaid 'stationseach timesaid turntable comes=to f rest,` each offsaid-po'sts having au axial .lboreT engageable Iwith one portion Tof -thef article agai-nst'lwhich powderis to `be Ycompacted-torhold` saidarticle....in :predetermined :position for said -.compacting..operation;` a -caml engaging ,the, bottom .of :each of said, Vposts,.=saidA cam-having` a high level and/a. low -level to regulate the vertical position of said posts at each of said stations,.said camhaving a gap at one/of said stations adjacent, one end ofthe Y "high' level ofsaid cam, a'spring loadedplungerpositioned in said gap,.saidr plunger having ahead normallyLheld substantially Hush with the adjacent high level portion fof said cam, 'said plunger 'headengaging the'- bottom 'of -the supportingpost. positioned at said one stationwhen' `said turntable .is at rest, means to depress Y'said-one supportfing post againstthe action of.' said springk loaded plunger, means tovhold said supporting'postragainstupwardmovetment to-said`high-level-upon release of said depressing means, t 'and means engageable` Withffsaid post: to force it :downwardly to-said- 'lowlevel-as v-it-is movedlto said next station.

-4. .In amachine .for compacting :metalpowden against an article,l a turntable indexed to rotateintermittently vwith rests of-uniformduration at ,each of aplurality of uniformly spaced work stations, a plurality Aofgposts mounted on saidturntable in the same spaced relationship as said stations, one of.said posts being positioned at `each of said stations'each time saidturntable 'comes to rest, each of said posts Ihaving means supportingsaid article -in predetermined position fonsaid compacting operation,-a cam engaging 'the bottom=of each of said posts, said cam having' a high-level andi a low level yto regulate thevertical position-l of 'reach' of 'said posts lat said stations, said cam having'a-rgap at fone ofrsaid stationsadjacent one end of the-highrlevel ofsaid'.cam, ya; spring loaded plunger positioned infsaid-gap,rsaid plunger having a -headnormally-held-substantiallyush :with the adjacenthighlevel portion of.saidfcam, rsaid .plunger head engagingzthe bottomofethe, post. positioned at said one station when said turntable is at rest, a pivotally movable latch positioned adjacent said plunger, a

, spring normally holding said latch in predetermined position, ja pin projecting laterally from said post,jsaid pin engageablel with said latch to move it pivotally in a hori- Vzontal plane against the action of said spring as said post approaches said one station, and means to depress said one post against the action of said spring loaded plunger, said spring moving said latch'back to said predetermined position in which it overlies said pin as said one post is depressed to move said pin below the levelof said latch.

5. In a machine for compacting metal powder against l an article, a turntable indexed to rotate intermittently with rests ofV uniform duration at each of a plurality of uniformly spaced worki stations, aV plurality of posts mounted on said turntable inthe same spaced relationship as said `stations,:one of said posts being positioned A each of said stations, said cam having a gap at one ofl said stations adjacent ,one end of the high level of said cam, a spring loaded plunger positioned in said g'ap,

said plunger having a head normally held substantially flush with the adjacent high level portion of said cam, said plunger head engaging the bottom of the post positioned at said one station when said turntable is at rest, a pivotally movable latch positioned adjacent said plunger, a spring normally holding said latch in predetermined position, a pin projecting laterally from said post, said pin engageable with said latch to move it pivotally in a horizontal plane against the action of said vspring as said post approaches said one station, means to depress said one post against theaction of said spring loaded plunger, said spring moving said latch back to-said predetermined position in which it overlies said pin as said one post is depressedto move said pin below the level of said latch, and means engaging said pin to force said supporting post downwardly to said low level vas said supporting post is moved to said next station.

6. In a machine for compacting metal powder against an article, a turntable indexed to rotate intermittently with rests of uniform duration at each of a pluralityof uniformly spaced work` stations, a plurality of supporting posts mounted on said turntable in the same spaced relationship as said stations, one of said posts being positioned at each of said stations each time said turntable comes to rest, each of said posts having an axial bore engageable with one portion of the article against which powder isi-to be compacted to hold said article in predetermined position for said compacting operation, a cam engaging the bottom of each of said posts, said cam having a high leveland a low level to regulate the vertical position of each of said posts at each of said stations, said cam having a gap at one of said stations adjacent Y one end of the high level of said cam, a spring loaded plunger positioned in said gap, said plunger having a head normally held substantially flush with-the adjacent high level portion of Asaid cam, Vsaid plunger head engaging the bottom of the supporting post positioned at said one station when said turntable is at rest, a pivotally movable latch positioned adjacent said plunger, a

spring normally holding said latch in predetermined position, a pin projecting laterally from said supporting post, said pin engageable with said latch to move it pivotally in a horizontal plane against the action of said spring as said supporting post approaches said one station, means to depresssaid one supporting post against the action of said spring loaded plunger, said spring moving said latch back to saidppredetermined position in which it overlies said pin as said one supporting post is depressed to move said pin below the level of said latch, and a second cam positioned radjacent said first cam and extending from a position adjacent the opposite side of said gap toga position adjacent the next station, said second cam being engageable with said pin upon rotation of said turntable to force said supporting post downwardly to its lower level as said post moves to said next station.

7. In a machine for compacting metal powder against an article` a turntable indexed to rotate intermittently with rests of uniform duration at each of a plurality of uniformly spaced work stations, a plurality of supporting posts mounted on said turntable in the same spaced relationship as said stations, 'one of said posts being positioned at each of said stations each time said turntable comes to rest, each of said posts having 4an axial bore engageable with one portion of the. article against which powder is to be compacted to hold said article in predetermined position for said compacting operation, a cam engaging the bottom of each of said posts, said cam having a high level and a low level to regulate the vertical position of each of said posts at each of said stations, said cam having a gap at one of said stations adjacent one end of the high level of said cam, a spring loaded v plunger positioned in said gap, said plunger having a head normally held substantially4 flush with the adjacent high level portion of said cam, said plunger head engaging the bottoml of the supporting post positioned at said one station when said `turntable is at rest, a vertically reciprocable ram, means for reciprocating Ysaid ram once at each rest of said turntable, a crosshead rigidly secured to said ram, a stud depending from said crosshead, a collar rigidly secured to and extending laterally from each of said supporting posts. a pin extending laterally from each of said collars, a guide pin extending upwardly from each-of said collars, said guide pin on the collar of said one supporting post being aligned vertically with said stud, whereby said stud depresses said. one supportling post upon the downward stroke of said ram. a latch engageable with said laterally projecting pin when said supporting post is depressed to prevent upward movement of said supporting post to said 'high level upon release of said depressing means, and a second cam positioned adjacent said rst camand extending from a position adjacent the opposite side of said gapto a position adjacent the next station, said second cam being engageable with said pin upon rotation of said turntable to force said supporting post downwardly to its lower level as said post moves to said next station.

8. In a machine for compacting metal powder against an article, a turntable indexed to rotate intermittently with rests of uniform duration at each of a plurality of uniformly spaced work stations, a plurality of supporting posts mounted on said turntable in the same spaced relationship as said stations, one of said posts being positioned at each of said stations each time said turntable comes to rest, each of said posts having an axial bore engageable with one portion of the article against which powder is to be compacted to hold said article in predetermined position for said compacting operation, a cam engaging the bottom of each ofV said posts, said cam having a low level at the first of said work stations, ascending to a high level at the second of said work stations, maintaining said high level until the fourth work station, and descending to said low level at the fifth of said work stations, said cam having a gap at said fourth work station, a spring pressed plunger positioned in said gap, said plunger being normally substantially ilush with the high level of said cam, means to depress the supporting post positioned on said plunger, latch means to hold said last mentioned supporting post against upward movement to saidhighi level upon release of said depressing means, and means -toi'holdsaid-Llastmentionedsupporting post rinengagement with the descending portion of frsaid,` cam *as saidturntable rotates it to said :iifthwork station.

'19. iinvfafmachine for compacting-- metal powderya" s'upsportingY posti for supporting .an articletagainstwhichtsaid powder is to be compacted, an upper die having a bore into which the portion of said article against which the powder is to be compacted is positioned, means for positioning a predetermined amount of metal powder in said bore, means for compacting said powder, a collar extending laterally from said supporting post, a guide pin extending upwardly from said collar, a crosshead reciprocable vertically, a stripper pin and a stud projecting downwardly from said crosshead, said stud being aligned axially with said guide pin, and said striper pin being aligned axially with said bore, whereby downward movement of said crosshead moves said supporting post and said compacted powder downwardly to strip said compacted powder from the bore of said upper die.

10. In a machine having a plurality of work stations for simultaneously performing different steps of a process for compacting metal powder, a supporting post for supporting an article against which said powder is to be compacted, an upper die having a vertical bore into which the portion of said article against which the powder is to be compacted is positioned, means for positioning a predetermined amount of metal powder in said bore, means for compacting said powder, a collar extending laterally from said supporting post, a latch pin extending laterally from said collar, a guide pin extending upwardly from said collar, a crosshead reciprocable vertically, a stripper pin and a stud projecting downwardly from said crosshead, said stud being aligned axially with said guide pin, and said stripper pin being aligned axially with said bore, whereby downward movement of said crosshead moves said supporting post and said compacted powder downwardly to strip said compacted powder from the bore of said upper die, and a latch engageable with said latch pin when said supportingpost is moved downwardly to hold said supporting post from return upward movement when said crosshead moves upwardly.

11. In a machine for compacting metal powder, a die having a vertical bore, a supporting post carrying a capacitor element having a portion positioned in said bore, means f-or positioning a predetermined quantity of powder in said bore, a turntable carrying said supporting post to a work station, a press pin aligned with said bore at said work station, a crosshead supporting said press pin, means to move said crosshead downwardly, whereby said press pin compacts said powder around the portion of said capacitor within said bore, a latch pin projecting at right angles to said supporting post, said turntable being operable to move said supporting post to another work station, a latch normally aligned horizontally with said latch pin, spring means urging said latch into a position forwardly of said last mentioned station, said latch pin engaging said latch and moving it laterally against the action of said spring means as said supporting post is move-d to said last mentioned station, and means Iat said last mentioned station to depress said supporting post to strip said powder compact from said bore, said spring means being effective to move said latch into vertical engagement with said latch pin to hold said supporting post in depressed position,

l2. In a machine for compacting metal powder against an article, a post for supporting said article, a pin slidably mounted in said post, the upper end of said pin engaging the lower end of said article supported on said post, a cam engageable with the lower end of said pin to partially eject said article from said post, means for carrying said post into vertical alignment with said cam, -a latchpin pin projecting laterally from said post, and another Cam engaging said latching pin t-o move said post vertisaid pin'inthe.opposingt direction.

-an article, aturnta'ble rotatable ina horizontal plane,a plate Asupported `vin vertically' 'spaced "relationship, tosaid turntable and rotatable therewith, amupper die member mounted in said plate, a pair f sleeves mounted in said plate adjacent opposite sides of said upper die, a post slidable vertically in said turntable, said post supporting said article with a portion thereof positioned in said upper die, a collar secured to said post, a pair of guide pins extending upwardly from said collar into said sleeves, means for moving said post downwardly to strip said article from said upper die when said turntable is at rest, an ejecting pin slidably mounted in said post, the upper end of said ejecting pin engaging the lower end of said article supported on the post, a cam engageable with said ejecting pin to partially eject said article from said post, said turntable being operable to carry said post into vertical alignment with said cam, a latching pin projecting laterally from said collar, and another cam engaging said latchiug pin to move said post vertically into engagement with said first cam and moving said pin in the opposing direction as said post is moved from said stripping position by rotation of said turntable.

14. In a machine for compacting metal powder against an article, a turntable rotatable in a horizontal plane, a post slidable vertically in said turntable, said post supporting said article, a pin slidably mounted in said post, the upper end of said pin engaging the lower end of said article supported on the post, a cam engageable with said pin to partially eject said article from said post, said turntable being operable to carry said post into vertical alignment with said cam, a latching pin projecting laterally from said post, and Ianother cam engaging said latching pin and moving said post vertically into engagement with said first cam as said post is moved by rotation of said turntable.

l5. -In a machine for compacting metal powder against an article, a turntable provided with a plurality of equally `spaced openings arranged circumferentially of said turntable, a post vertically slidable in veach of said openings, a vcam below said openings engaging the bottom of each of said posts to support said posts at either of two verticallevels, said turntable being rotatable to move said posts in a circular path, means to rotate said turntable with uniform rests at equally spaced stations, means projecting laterally from said post, means at one of said stations for depressing said post from its higher level, a latch engaging said laterally projecting means to prevent return of said post to its higher level upon release of said depressing means, and another cam engaging said laterally projecting means to move said post t-o its lower level on the iirst cam as said turntable moves it to the next succeeding station.

16. In a machine for compacting metal powder again-st an article, a turntable indexed to rotate intermittently with rests at each of a plurality of spaced work stations, a plurality of supporting posts mounted on said turntable in the same spaced relationship 'as said stations, one of said posts being positioned at each of said stations each time said turntable comes to rest, each of said posts having means 'supporting said article in predetermined position for compacting operation, a cam engaging the bottom of each of said posts, said cam having Va high level and a low level to regulate the vertical posi-tion of each of said posts at each of said stations, said cam having a gap at one 0f said stations adjacent one end of the high level of said cam, a spring pressed plunger positioned in said gap, said plunger being normally substantially iiush with the adjacent high level portions of said cam and engaging the bottom of the supporting post positioned at said one pressed plunger, means to holdf'said 'snppprtingpst against upward movement to saidrhigh leveLupon 'release of said depressing means, and means engageable with said one post to force it downwardly to said low level as it ismoved to said next station.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pertz T Nov. 1, 1904 Church i May 30, 1905 lPecker et al June 6,-1944 Coates et al. Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Ltent No. 2,798,255 July 9, 1957 John D. Winters It ie hereby certified that error appears .in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Lettere Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line l?, for "eondtion'I read conditioncolumn 4, line 20, for "A" read --At; line 66, after I'with" insert one; column 5, line 2l, for "turnable" read turntable; column 9, line 16, for "striper" read stripper; lines '73 and 74, for "'latchpn" read letchi1r1g=o Signed and sealed this 24th dey of September 1957..

KARL H. AICLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attestlng Offlcer Commissioner of Patents 

15. IN A MACHINE FOR COMPACTING METAL POWDER AGAINST AN ARTICLE, A TURNTABLE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF EQUALLY SPACED OPENINGS ARRANGED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF SAID TURNTABLE, A POST VERTICALLY SLIDABLE IN EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, A CAM BELOW SAID OPENINGS ENGAGING THE BOTTOM OF EACH OF SAID POSTS TO SUPPORT SAID POSTS AT EITHER OF TWO VERTICAL LEVELS, SAID TURNTABLE BEING ROTATABLE TO MOVE SAID POSTS IN A CIRCULAR PATH, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID TURNTABLE WITH UNIFORM RESTS AT EQUALLY SPACED STATIONS, MEANS PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID POST, MEANS AT ONE OF SAID STATIONS FOR DEPRESSING SAID POST FROM ITS HIGHER LEVEL, A LATCH ENGAGING SAID LATERALLY PROJECTING MEANS TO PREVENT RETURN OF SAID POST TO ITS HIGHER LEVEL UPON RELEASE OF SAID DEPRESSING MEANS, AND ANOTHER CAM ENGAGING SAID LATERALLY PROJECTING MEANS TO MOVE SAID POST TO ITS LOWER LEVEL ON THE FIRST CAM AS SAID TURNTABLE MOVES IT TO NEXT SUCCEEDING STATION. 